UK Snooker Championship LIVE: Ronnie O’Sullivan dramatically beats Zhou Yuelong in tight quarter-final
O’Sullivan edges past Zhou 6-5 for a place in the semi-finals at the York Barbican as Hossein Vafaei beats Zhang Anda 6-4
Ronnie O’Sullivan returned to action at the UK Snooker Championship with a dramatic win to book his place in the semi-finals at the York Barbican. O’Sullivan is bidding for an eighth UK Championship crown this week but for the second round in a row needed a deciding frame to advance, as he fought his way past Zhou Yuelong 6-5.
‘The Rocket’ got off to a flyer as he raced into a 3-0 lead, including a break of 125 in the opening frame, and then led 4-1. But Zhou hit back with four frames on the spin as the wheels came off the O’Sullivan train and he seemed destined for defeat at 5-4 behind.
But, as he has so often done before, he found another gear to level the match at 5-5 and then a ruthless break of 122 in the decider sealed the deal and set up a semi-final clash with Hossein Vafaei, in a rematch of their fiery World Championship clash from earlier this year.
“Technically I was all over the gaff,” said O’Sullivan after his win. “Out of desperation, I started to play alright in the last two frames. Before that, I was going through the motions. I was so frustrated and so disappointed with how I played, that didn’t feel any pressure. I wasn’t nervous, he was playing better and I deserved to lose. “
Relive the action from the UK Championship below:
Ronnie O’Sullivan 3-1 Zhou Yuelong
O’Sullivan leaves himself the wrong side of the blue, so his next red is mid-range into the left corner pocket. Nicely struck! Heart of the hole and a bit of stun on the cu ball t move it across the table.
His lead goes past 50 and there are still a handful of reds in the centre of the table waiting. He should win the frame from here.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 3-1 Zhou Yuelong
O’Sullivan more or less straight back in as he pots the previously missed red by the yellow pocket from long range. A bit of work in baulk first as he clears another red from up there and then moves the white down the table. The frame score moves to 30-1 and he’s at the scoring end of the baize now.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 3-1 Zhou Yuelong
A key shot in the break comes on 12 as O’Sullivan leaves himself high on the black to bounce off a cushion and into the pack of reds. The split isn’t great and he’s only left with a long red into the yellow pocket.
It looks as if it’s there but rattles both jaws twice and the pocket spits it out. Break ends at 19.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 3-1 Zhou Yuelong
We’re back underway in frame five. Zhou crunches an early long red - a great pot. But then misses the straightforward black off the spot as he focuses on going into the pack.
O’Sullivan calmly rolls in a tricky red to the middle and he’s in here again.
Hosseon Vafaei 2-2 Zhang Anda
Over on the other table, Iran’s Hossein Vafaei and China’s Zhang Anda have also reached their mid-session interval. It’s been a high-quality affair with the prize of a semi-final against O’Sullivan or Zhou awaiting the winner.
Vafaei has made two century breaks, while Zhang has runs of 97 and 57 to leave the men locked at 2-2. Some cracking snooker so far.
MID-SESSION INTERVAL! Ronnie O’Sullivan 3-1 Zhou Yuelong
Ronnie O’Sullivan has dominated the first session of this quarter-final.
FRAME! Ronnie O’Sullivan 3-1 Zhou Yuelong
Zhou keeps his composure, clears the final few reds and then pots the yellow to move to the snookers-required stage. 29 points ahead with 25 on.
He pots the green and misses the brown to the middle but O’Sullivan doesn’t bother coming back to the table. So it’s a frame on the board from Zhou Yuelong.
‘Only’ 3-1 down and that mid-session interval cup of tea will taste a lot sweeter now.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 3-0 Zhou Yuelong
O’Sullivan has a go at a long red to the left corner and misses but Zhou gets it from tight on the cushion with his next shot. Thunders a green into the middle pocket to follow - that’s sublime!
Puts him nicely on a red at the business end of the table. This is now a golden opportunity to win the frame and narrow the deficit to 3-1.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 3-0 Zhou Yuelong
Eventually the luck runs out and there’s no pot on - just a safety. So it’s 25-22 to Zhou with four reds left on the table.
Ronnie O’Sullivan 3-0 Zhou Yuelong
Zhou makes a thin cut on a red, has to trust to luck going into baulk and is left with another thin cut on the brown. Same shot that he missed before but this time he makes it.
Tough position when he lands on the reds in the centre of the table though. He’s taking on a ludicrously thin cut to the right corner but NAILS IT! Hasn’t had an easy pot yet in this break but he’s still going strong!
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